Spring-operated mechanical toy or analogous device.



No. 655,62l. Patented Aug. 7, I900.

F. J. GUSTINE.

SPRINGDPEBATED MECHANICAL TOY OB ANALOGOUS DEVICE.

(Application filed Nov. 20, 1899.)

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tribal rvrrnn rafrns a rnr FRANKLIN J. GUSTINE, on NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR or oun- HALF TO CHARLES CARROLL, or SAME PLACE.

SPRING-=OPERATED iv'l ECHANlCAI. TOY GR ANALOGOUS DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,621, dated August '7, 1900.

I Application filed November 20, 1399. Serial No. 737,684. (No model.)

T all 107w? 7315 l] OOYWWW! of which spring-4311c inner end-is secured Be it known that I, FRANKLIN J. GUSTINE, at 12 to the stem 5, and the other or outer a citizen of the United States, residing at New end of which spring is secured at 13 to the Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of casing 9, as seen in Fig. 3. The spring has 5 Louisiana, have invented certain new and sufficient lateral stiffness to support the body useful Improvements in Spring-Operated Meof the top upon the stem in its spinning pochanical Toys or Analogous Devices; and, I sition, but allows of an axial movement limdo hereby declare the following to be a full, ited by the upper and lower walls of the easclear, and exact description of the invention, ing 9. The stem 5 is preferably hollow, or at 6o 0 such as will enable others skilled in the art to least is so at its upper end, at which end it is which it appertains to make and use the same. cut to form a cam-clutch member 6, arranged My invention relates to improvements in to cooperate with an oppositely-formed cammechanical toys, andparticularlytothat class clutch member 7, formed upon an inolosing of mechanical toys known as spinningcylindrical extension 8 upon. the surrounding 15 tops; and it consists in a novel combination portion of the upper part of the shell. 2.

of two topsthe one provided with an im- The lower end of the stem 3 of the upper pelling-spring and means for so looking the top fits loosely within the upper end of the two together that when dropped upon a hard hollow stem 5 of the lower top, and the prosurface the upper top becomes separated from jecting stud 4 of the stem 3 is arranged to en- 20 the lower top, and the two are caused to spin gage between the vertical faces of the clutch independently. I members 6 and 7, to lock the two tops against My invention will be understood by referbackward rotation with respect to each other once to the accompanying drawings, wherein after having been wound in opposite directhe same parts are indicated by the same figtions to the extent of the spring 11. 5 EYES throughout t e Several Views. The operation in winding and looking to- Figure 1 represents a view in elevation of gethcr the two tops is as follows: The one the two tops locked together. 7 Fig. 2 is asectop being held in one hand and the other top tional view of the upper or passive top, being held in the other hand, the lower end and Fig. 3 is a similar view of the lower or of the stem 3 of the upper or passive top 30 active top. is inserted into the hollow upper end of the The upper top consists of a hollow body or stem 5 of the lower or active top and the shell 1, or may be solid, if preferred, being two tops are turned in opposite directions hollow for the sake of cheapness and lightabout their common axis. As the winding ness, through which extends axially a rigid proceeds the stud 4 on the stem 3 will slide 3 5 straight cylindrical stem 3, the lower end of upward over the cam-faces of the clutch 7 on which stem projects beyond the bottom surthe lower top-body, but will cause the rotaface of the shell 1 and has a rounded point tion of the stem 5 by reason of its engageupon which the said body may spin after the ment with the vertical clutch-face on said manner of such tops. The lower projecting stem. W'hen wound to the limit of the spring 0 end of the stem 3 is provided with a laterally- 11, the stud at is caused to engage behind the projecting lug or stud 4, as seen most clearly vertical clutch-face of the clutch 7, thus lockin Fig. 2. The upper end of the stem 3 may ing the upper top, its stem, and the stem of or may not project above the body of the top. the lower top against backward rotation un- The lower top hasa bodyoraholloworshellder the influence of the spring 11 until dis- 5 like form 2, similar in exterior appearance to engaged. The tops are spun bybeing dropped the upper top. This lower top has, however, so that the bottom end or tip, which is an axial stem 5, which is mounted loosely rounded, of the stem 5 of the lower top therein, having both a rotary movement and strikes sharply upon the surface upon which an axial movement with respect to the shell the tops are to be spun, and this causes an 10: 5o 2. Within the shell 2 is formedahollow casaxial movement of the body 2 of the lower ing 9, containing a coiled spring 11, one end top with respect to the stem 5 thereof, said movement being downward, and this disengages the cam 7 on the extension 8 of the topbody 2 from the stud 4 on the stem of the upper top. The tension upon the spring 11 thus being removed, the latter reacts upon both the body 2 of the lower top and its stem 5, causing a rapid rotation of both in opposite directions. The rotation of the stem 5 of the lower top gives a sudden impetus to the stem of the upper top through the stud 4 on its stem, causing the upper top to be thrown off bodily with a spinning motion, which causes it to float in the air for an in- ,stant and then settle down upon a conventhe two tops spinning in opposite directions.

I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of construction herein shown and described, as these may very well be varied within reasonable limits Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a mechanical toy, the combination with a spinning-top having a hollow body and a hollow stem passing through said body, a coiled spring fixed at one end within said body to an intregral portion thereof and fixed at its opposite end to and surrounding said hollow stem, the said hollow stem being allowed axial movement with respect to said body, one end of said stem having a spinning-point and the opposite end having a locking clutch member formed thereon, and the said body having cylindrical extension concentric with said stem and provided with alocking clutch member, the opposite of the clutch member on the said stem; of a second spinning-top having a rigid stem provided with a spinning-point at one end adapted to enter loosely the open end of the said hollow stem, and having near its spinning end a projection arranged to engage said clutch members and to lock the body and stem of the first-named t-op together under tension upon said spring, the projection being arranged to become disengaged from the clutch member on the body of the first top by the axial movement of the hollow stem and the said tops receiving independent rotation by the reaction of said spring, substantially as described.

2. In a mechanical toy, the combination with a spinning-top provided with a hollow stem, a coiled spring loosely connecting said body and stem and allowing axial movement of the stem with respect to the body; Ofofi: second top having an integral or rigidly-connected body and stem, the latter provided with a spinning-point; means whereby the two tops maybe connected together and the body and stem of the first-named top locked against rotation, and means for causing the disengagement of the two tops and their rotation in opposite directions upon the unlocking of the stem and body of the first-named top, substantially as described.

3. In a mechanical toy, and in combination, two spinning-tops, the one containing the impelling mechanism for both, and the other provided with means for locking such impelling mechanism under tension, and for receiving an impetus therefrom when suddenly released from such tension, substantially as described.

4. In a mechanical device, the combination with a body comprising two concentric rotary elements; a spring loosely connecting said rotary elements; and means whereby said elements may be locked against rotation with respect to each other; of a body provided with means for locking said elements under tension, arranged to become disengaged and to unlock said elements upon the axial movement of one of such elements, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses FRANKLIN J. GUSTINE.

\Vitnesses:

AUG. HARTER, ALEX. MCDONALD. 

